Itch for a TVR / Porsche - Current DB9'er

[JiggyJaggy]

Im constantly getting an itch to try a different car and I find myself constantly looking at a TVR Tuscan 6speed / Sagaris along with the Porker's in PH classified. Have anyone else scratched this itch and how did you find the respective cars compared to an AML?

The only other car I would like to aim for one day is an R8, and this is the one I can see will give the closest rivalry to the DB9 in my opinion.

Afterthought: Has anyone satisfied this type of itch to hire any of these cars in order to realise that Aston is the way forward?

[bogie]

Weve had an early Tuscan and a Sagaris back in 2006...did 80k miles in them. Great cars, loads of character, great noise and better straight line performance than most Astons other than the newer V12 engined cars

Actually I prefer the Tuscan because of the roof arrangement. The Sagaris handles better but perhaps a bit too focussed for a road only car and less practical on a daily basis than an Aston

May get another Tuscan one day, still miss it. A great combination of practicality with enough performance for a road going sportscar. Plenty of sorted ones out there these days and better support from independants than there was when the factory was open

[mikey k]

It is a disease I have

TVR I could see and would struggle to justify if I had time!
Porker and R8 are completely different animals - both very capable, very practical and excellent "everyday"
Neither have that "event" each time you get in or drive it

You need to go back a step in your head and think about WHY you want to change and WHAT you actually want out of the car

Edited by mikey k on Thursday 26th December 20:17

[JiggyJaggy]

Agreed, I should have said the reason I wanted to change was to try a few differing cars before I pick one as a "keeper". I only drive the DB9 on weekends and to the gym, so can't imagine more than 5k miles per year. In which case Im not so worried about the daily drivability (RR Vogue as a DD has all the luxuries for that).

I would therefore like to try a car which has:

1) Looks
2) V8 or higher sound and some grunt
3) Sense of occasion
4) Relative reliability for weekend getaway drives

Im not really worried about: Boot Space, MPG, Size, Price (everything Im considering is sub £35k (excl R8 at sub £40K) or any other specs. Straight line speed and 1/4 mile times also mean nothing... I live in central London where 3rd gear is as likely as Porsche changing their styling :-p

My thoughts are therefore the Tuscan/Sagaris, Porsche Carrera 4s (think these actually look a little dated in comparison to other £30-40k cars generally), R8, and possibly Ferrari 3555 Berlinetta. The thinking is that I try one/few of these cars and get them out of my system in order to realise that in my opinion the DB9 is best for looks, sound, storage, exclusivity... basically every element I can think of, for my use anyway...

Thoughts?

Edited by JiggyJaggy on Thursday 26th December 20:10

[mikey k]

On that basis I'd get a well sorted Mk1 Tuscan or a light weight Cerbera

[slippery]

JiggyJaggy, the TVRs/Porsche you mention are both six cylinders, but you say you want a V8 or higher?
I would certainly make sure that you go into a TVR with your eyes wide open, as they are very much an acquired taste, and that taste isn't for everyone. You have to really want one to put up with their foibles and idiosynchrasies, but if you 'get' them, you'll really enjoy it and it will make a DB9, a 911, or an R8 feel very sanitised.

[JiggyJaggy]

Apologies I meant a V6 as per the Tuscan straight6 I was looking at. Does the TVR feel cheap in comparison to an Aston? I don't mind if there is not much inside it as long as the build quality is good?

I was looking at trying down to Somerset for the weekend for a mini-break and hiring one of these. Im sure £150 would either satisfy the itch or cause me to buy one for a year or so!! Linky: http://www.thesupercardirectory.co.uk/marques/view...

Unless anyone in London is looking to lend/hire their's to me for a day etc...

[slippery]

JiggyJaggy said:

Apologies I meant a V6 as per the Tuscan straight6 I was looking at. Does the TVR feel cheap in comparison to an Aston? I don't mind if there is not much inside it as long as the build quality is good?

I was looking at trying down to Somerset for the weekend for a mini-break and hiring one of these. Im sure £150 would either satisfy the itch or cause me to buy one for a year or so!! Linky: http://www.thesupercardirectory.co.uk/marques/view...

Unless anyone in London is looking to lend/hire their's to me for a day etc...

They feel quite flimsy and very raw. If I drive mine (a Chimaera 500) and try to compare it to a mass produced car, I would say the build quality is atrocious. However, viewed as a stand alone proposition, forgiving its shortcomings for the sake of enjoying a truly analog driving experience, it gets the adrenalin running big time. It would take something very exotic to get me to part with mine, as I know that I would miss the craziness of it if I went for something more polished, unless it had huge performance. I've got a handful of cars on the replacement list, of which funnily enough two are Astons, the V12 Vantage or DBS, along with an SLS or a Gallardo. Until I can afford one of those, the Tiv will be staying with me, which hopefully gives you an idea of how they can get under your skin. I'm sure if mine were one of the more exotic TVRs of the like that you are referring to, this would be even more the case, although some of the shortcomings may be less forgivable at the higher price point. The TVR forum on here is great and if you posted that you'd like to have a good look around one, you'd have no shortage of helpful owners volunteer to help.

[JiggyJaggy]

Thanks for your thoughts and input. Ideally I would like to keep the DB9 as a company asset and rent/borrow a TVR/Porsche. I will ask over at the TVR forum. Have your driven an Aston yet before you buy one?

[GingerMunky]

JiggyJaggy said:

Thanks for your thoughts and input. Ideally I would like to keep the DB9 as a company asset and rent/borrow a TVR/Porsche. I will ask over at the TVR forum. Have your driven an Aston yet before you buy one?

Had two TVR's then a Porsche and now an Aston. Wanted a Porsche to scratch the itch, before I could afford the Aston. Don't think I will go back to Porsche for a long time. The Aston is such and event, feels so special and is received in a way that leaves Porsche owners so incredibly envious.

I think if I had not had the Porsche first I would be changing now, because I wouldn't know better. The Porsche is an superb car in every way and will be a joy to own, but it's just not as enjoyable as the Aston.

[slippery]

JiggyJaggy said:

Thanks for your thoughts and input. Ideally I would like to keep the DB9 as a company asset and rent/borrow a TVR/Porsche. I will ask over at the TVR forum. Have your driven an Aston yet before you buy one?

So far I've only tried the SLS, but I'm hopefully going to drive a V12V over the next few weeks, although I think I prefer the look of the DBS. There is a company on the South coast that hire TVRs. Can't remember the name, but I'm sure a bit of googling will soon bring them up.
I have bought an awful lot of cars without actually looking at or driving them, including all three that I have at the moment, but I intend to take my time over the big purchase!

[steviejasp]

Hi Jiggyjaggy,
Funnily enough I was thinking of getting a DB9 in a year or two. If you fancy a go in a 4.5 Cerb one day in the early Spring, I could meet you half way if you bring your AM.

[slippery]

steviejasp said:

Hi Jiggyjaggy,
Funnily enough I was thinking of getting a DB9 in a year or two. If you fancy a go in a 4.5 Cerb one day in the early Spring, I could meet you half way if you bring your AM.

There you go JiggyJaggy!

[JiggyJaggy]

Nice one! Ideally I love the look of the Tuscan, but happy to try a Chimera to dip my toe into the TVR world

[slippery]

JiggyJaggy said:

Nice one! Ideally I love the look of the Tuscan, but happy to try a Chimera to dip my toe into the TVR world

He's got a Cerbera, much more violent than a lowly Chimaera.

[JiggyJaggy]

Apologies for the error. Just seen the car online, looks a stunner!

[slippery]

For many, an AJP engined Cerb is the ultimate TVR.

[gutu12]

One thought. You may have to up your budget. The later Tuscans, with the wavey dashes and better build quality hover around the £40k mark, over £40k or an 'S', and seem to be going up. You will not be able to buy a Sagaris much under £50k.
If 40 is your limit I'd suggest Tuscan may be the way to go. Certainly much more exclusive than an Aston (only 80 odd in the world) although Str8six in Oxfordshire do have a rather nice, if pricey 4.5 Cerb for sale at the moment.

[JiggyJaggy]

I am seeing Tuscans in the classifieds for £15k plus. What obvious point am I missing? Thanks

[Zod]

There are a couple of R8/Aston comparison threads on here from me.